By James Pringle
Special to The PREVIEW
In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million cloud-to-ground lightning flashes per year and each one is a potential threat to both life and property.
During the past 30 years, 44 people have been killed each year by lightning on average, while during the last 10 years, this number is 27. Last year, 16 people were killed by lightning, while many others were injured. All of the people who were killed by lightning in 2017 were involved in outdoor activities.
In Colorado last year, lightning killed two people and injured two. During the past 37 years, on average, Colorado has had three lightning fatalities and 12 injuries per year. Since 1980, El Paso County, including the Colorado Springs metro area, has had the dubious distinction of having the most lightning casualties of any county in Colorado, with 10 fatalities and 84 injuries. Larimer County has had 10 fatalities and 75 injuries, while Jefferson County has had nine fatalities and 38 injuries.
Because it usually affects one or two victims at a time, and does not cause the destruction left in the wake of tornadoes or hurricanes, lightning generally receives less attention.
Many people do not act in a timely manner to protect their lives, and the lives of others, simply because they do not understand all the dangers associated with thunderstorms and lightning.
You need to become aware of the situations that put you at a greater risk of being struck by lightning, and what you can do to reduce that risk. While nearly all people take some protective actions when rain, hail and wind are occurring with thunderstorms, many leave themselves vulnerable to being struck by lightning as thunderstorms approach, move overhead and move away.
Lightning can strike more than 10 miles from the rain area of a thunderstorm. That distance is about as far as you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you could be in danger of being struck by lightning. When thunder roars, go indoors.
Most lightning deaths and injuries in Colorado occur during the afternoon when lightning is most likely to develop, and when people are more likely to be outside. Quite a few lightning fatalities occur when little or no rain is falling.
The chance that you will be struck by lightning in the United States is about 1 in 960,000 for each year of your life. However, your chance of being struck will depend on whether you consistently practice all the lightning safety rules.
Lightning starts around half of the forest and rangeland wildfires across the state. Colorado averages around 2,500 wildfires each year. Many of these lightning caused fires occur with very little or no rain. These storms often generate gusty winds, which can fan the flames of the fire.
When planning outdoor activities, check out the hazardous weather outlook and the latest forecast, which include thunderstorm and lightning potential. Make sure you get the specific forecast information of the location you will be visiting.
The websites for National Weather Service offices which cover Colorado and issue these products are: Denver/Boulder —www.weather.gov/den; Grand Junction — www.weather.gov/gjt; Pueblo — www.weather.gov/pub; and Goodland — www.weather.gov/gld.
NOAA’s lightning website, which contains abundant information on lightning safety, can be found at: www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov.
Lightning information specific for the Colorado can be found at: www.weather.gov/pub/lightning.
